5 Perfect Days in Disney World

MAGIC KINGDOM
1. Can’t Miss Rides: Our top picks – head for the mountains. Ride at least one early when the
lines are shorter
• Space Mountain
• Splash Mountain
• Big Thunder Mountain
• Seven Dwarfs Mine Train

2. The rest of the can’t-miss rides: You also need to make sure you ride: Peter Pan’s Flight,
Haunted Mansion, Pirates of the Caribbean, Dumbo, ‘it’s a small world’, and Jungle Cruise.
There are 27 (yes TWENTY-SEVEN) rides at Magic Kingdom, and you won’t fit them all in one
day – so prioritize what you want to ride.

3. Shows at Magic Kingdom: Carousel of Progress, Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room, and
Country Bear Jamboree are the BIG THREE. Mickey’s PhilharMagic is a good choice if you need a
break in Fantasyland, and you’ll want to check out Hall of Presidents when it reopens.

4. Food at Magic Kingdom: Cinderella’s Royal Table is THE iconic spot to eat when you’re at
Magic Kingdom. Skipper Canteen is a much-less-expensive but equally fun spot to dine.

• Quick Meal Spots: Sleepy Hollow Refreshments, Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn and Café, Casey’s
Corner, and Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Café
• Snacks: Stop by Aloha Isle for Dole Whip or grab a Cheshire Cat Tail at Cosmic Ray’s

5. Other things you can’t miss at Magic Kingdom: The Dapper Dans, character cavalcades, and
Happily Ever After (the nighttime fireworks and projection show). A new show will debut on
October 1st for the 50th anniversary.

6. Magic Kingdom TIPS:

• Save the park for mid-week rather than going on a weekend
• It is very crowded so prioritize your must-do rides
• Check out the Magic Kingdom-area hotels if you’re planning to spend more than one
day at this park
DISNEY’S HOLLYWOOD STUDIOS
1. Must-do rides: Rise of the Resistance is the MOST popular ride right now and you NEED to
plan for this one. You’ll need a boarding group to ride via My Disney Experience – they are
released at 7AM and 1PM every day.

Other rides you don’t want to miss:

• Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run
• Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster
• Tower of Terror
• Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway
• Slinky Dog Dash
• Toy Story Mania

2. Shows you’ll want to check out: Most live shows have not yet returned to Hollywood
Studios, but when they do you’ll want to check out Beauty and the Beast Live on Stage, Indiana
Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular, and For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing Along (this is open
now).

3. Hollywood Studios food: You’ll find some of our favorites here including Ronto Wraps at
Ronto Rosters in Galaxy’s Edge and the Carrot Cake Cookie at Trolley Car Café.

Other eats you don’t want to miss:

• Ronto Roasters
• ABC Commissary (it’s come a long way)
• Hollywood Brown Derby (get the Cobb Salad)
• 50s Prime Time Café
• Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater

4. Other stuff you can’t miss: Character motorcades on Hollywood Boulevard, look for hidden
Mickeys and Easter eggs in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge and Toy Story Land

5. Hollywood Studios TIPS:

• When fireworks return to the park you’ll want to take time out of your day to see
Fantasmic! after dark
• If you’re a big Star Wars fan consider spending more than one day here – it can be tough
to get a Rise of the Resistance boarding group
• Use rider switch for the thrill rides at Hollywood Studios
DISNEY’S ANIMAL KINGDOM
1. Must-do rides: Flight of Passage will have the longest wait time in the park, so make this a
priority if it’s on your must-ride list.

Other rides you don’t want to miss:

• Na’vi River Journey
• Kilimanjaro Safaris
• Expedition Everest
• Dinosaur

2. Can’t-miss shows: Right now, Festival of the Lion King is back, and you don’t want to miss
this show. When it reopens, you’ll also want to check out Finding Nemo: The Musical.

3. Animal Kingdom food: Satu’li Canteen is one of our top picks anywhere in Disney World.

Other can’t-miss options:

• Flame Tree Barbecue
• Tusker House (character dining)
• Yak & Yeti
• Nomad Lounge (you need an Advance Dining Reservation to get in here)
• And don’t forget about ice cream from Dino Bites, street corn from Harambe Street
Market, and sweets from Zuri’s Sweets Shop

4. Other stuff you can’t miss: There are so many Easter eggs and hidden details at Animal
Kingdom, be sure you look for all of them. Also check out the animal trails, the trails around the
Tree of Life, and Rafiki’s Planet Watch.

5. Animal Kingdom TIPS:

• When live music returns to the park, be sure to make time to catch the performances in
Africa and Asia
• Check out the unique merchandise items in the park’s shops
• A new show – Kite Tails – is coming this fall for the 50th anniversary of Disney World
EPCOT
1. Things to know about EPCOT: This theme park is made up of Future World and World
Showcase. You can tackle the park in one day, but it might be hard to fit in all in.

2. Must-do rides: Most of the rides are in Future World. You’ll want to hit up Soarin’ or Test
Track First.

Then:
• Leave Spaceship Earth for later in the day
• Frozen Ever After is the BIG ride in World Showcase (for now)
• Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure opens October 1st and will be THE E-ticket ride at EPCOT
for a while
• Living with the Land in The Land Pavilion is a cult classic

3. Shows at EPCOT: Most live entertainment has not returned to EPCOT, but you can catch
Mariachi Cobre, the Jammitors, and Voices of Liberty at all the Festivals. There are also films in
China, France, and Canada where you can take in some much-needed A/C (the Canada film is
closed right now during the Food and Wine Festival).

4. EPCOT food: There is so much good food at EPCOT, it’s hard to make a bad decision.
• From now through November 20, check out the EPCOT Food and Wine Festival
• Le Cellier is a top pick
• Garden Grill is one of our top picks for a character meal at Disney World
• Le Creperie de Paris is opening in the France Pavilion on October 1st
• Space 220 should be opening sometime soon (we hope)
• Stop by Les Halles Boulangerie Patisserie in the France Pavilion
• Get your sweets at Karamell Kuche in the Germany Pavilion
• Don’t miss the fish and chips at Yorkshire County Fish Shop in the United Kingdom
Pavilion
• And don’t forget to check out School Bread at Kringla Bakeri og Kafe in the Norway
Pavilion

5. Other stuff you can’t miss: Be sure to leave plenty of time to explore all the World Showcase
pavilions – don’t just glance at them as you walk by. Check out the shops, exhibits, and more.
And right now, you can catch fireworks nightly. Harmonious opens October 1st.

6. EPCOT TIPS:
• EPCOT closes late, so don’t plan a super early day the next day
• If you’re staying at an EPCOT-area hotel, enter the park at the International Gateway
• Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind should open in 2022. Check out all the things
coming to EPCOT at the EPCOT Experience
DISNEY SPRINGS/RESORT DAY
1. Arrival or departure day: Disney Springs is a great choice for your arrival or departure day –
you’ll find shopping, entertainment, and dining here. Morimoto Asia, Chef Art Smith’s
Homecomin’, and Wine Bar George are a few of our favorite spots. And be sure to get cookies
at Gideon’s Bakehouse.

2. Can’t-miss things at your resort: Check out all the free activities at your Disney World hotel
including pool parties, campfires, and more.
• Don’t overlook dining at the hotels. ‘Ohana at the Polynesian, California Grill at the
Contemporary, and Sanaa at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge are three of our top picks

3. Planning your “lazy day”: Put your Disney Springs or resort day in the middle of your trip so
you have some down time to rest your feet, relax, and take advantage of everything your hotel
has to offer.

4. Disney Springs/Resort Day TIPS:

• There are not buses from Disney Springs to the theme parks
• Ride shares like Uber and Lyft are available around Disney World
• Disney Springs restaurants are typically open later than the theme parks, so it’s a good
spot to dine after 10PM